Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-02-11

bread or meat alone, and preserving oil the
while the utmost cheerfulness OF disposition.
He was blessed with un uncommon quality and
quantity of cool courage to which was added
excellent Judgment and forethought. Tho re-
suit OF his having these qualities OF mind and
character was that he became reliable and
potent leader OF men.
For n time Massie embarked In tho salt-mall-
ing business, which was then n much more
profitable and important industry that 1t now
Is. He was occasionally employed however In
the office of Colonel II. G. Anderson, the chief
surveyor of the Virginia military lands. A
large number OF land warrants were placed in
Masse's hands TO enter and survey upon such
terms as he could get from the owners Of them.
The risk OF making land entries and surveys
was very great, rs the Scioto country was in
Tested with hostile Indians, so the surveyors
were able to make liberal terms with the own
ers OF the land. one-third, one-fourth, and We
arc told that one-half of the good land acquired
by the work OF the surveyors was given them
for their services. II the owners preferred to
pay cash for the work OF having their lands en-
tered and located, the usual charge was ten
pounds, Virginia currency, for every thousand
acres entered and surveyed, plus some expenses.
The location of land warrants in the Virginia
Military District between the Scioto and the
Little Miami, prior TO 1870, says Mcdonald in
his rare and interesting sketches, was made by
stealth. Every creek that was explored every
the savage Indians, whose courage and perse-
verance was only equaed by the perseverance
of the whites TO push forward their settle
ments.
In the fall OF 1903 Massie decided TO undertake
n surveying tour on the Scioto river, though he
well knew that the time he had selected was n
particularly dangerous period. But little he
cared for the danger, so with no ear for remon-
STRANGE he fitted out his expedition. His party
consisted OF thirty men, three OF whom besides
himself were surveyors. Their names were
John Beasley Nathaniel Beasley and Peter
Lee 1t was in this expedition that Duncan
Macarthur, destined to become Governor OF
the State OF Ohio, was employed as chain
bearer. In October the expedition started up
the Scioto, which they assembled as far rs the
site OF Chillicothe without any long hnlts. A
number OF surveys were made, and Massie fin
ished the work that he had projected without
interference from the Indians. Massies party
returned to Kentucky with glowing accounts OF
the beautiful valley that had been explored.
In the following winter Massie explored from
their mouths TO their sources the branches OF
the Little Miami river. Later he traced out
other remote tributaries of the Little Miami,
and penetrated us far northwest as what is now
Clarke County.
The surveyors lot was not always an easy or
happy one in the olden days. Massie's party
endured great privations on their last eXpe-
dition. During the tour, which continued thirty
days, they had no bread. For the first two
weeks pint OF flour was distributed to each
mess once a day TO mix with the soup made
from game. At night they were afraid to sleep
by fires lest the light might make their bodies
attractive targets for rowing Indians; SO when 1t
was time to retro Massie always gave the sig
nal, and the whole party rising from their COM
Portable fires would stalk of three or four
hundred yards into the dark, cold forests,
where they scraped away the snow from
u little plot of ground and then lay down
upon II for the night. One-half OF the blankets
were spread upon the ground and the remain
ing ones were used for covering The covering
blankets were fastened together by skewers to
prevent them from slipping apart. The whole
party slept "spoon-fashion," with three heads
one way and four the other, the feet extending
10 about the middle OF the bodies. When one
fellow wanted 20 turn over or shift his position
the whole party had 10 follow him or else the
spoon arrangement would be destroyed and the
cold let In.
hassie was recognized as a man OF great worth
and ability, and when he had laid out Chilli
cothe he was made Colonel OF militia by Gov
ernor st. Clair, who held him in high esteem
The State troops were first organized by Massie
He was q member of the Convention that
adopted the first constitution OF Ohio. and after
the State was formed was q Senator from Ross
County, and at the first session of the General
Assembly, was chosen Speaker. He was also
the first Major General OF the Second Division
OF Ohio Militia. When the State was organized,
General Massie was one OF the largest owners
OF real estate In Ohio. He selected o home
stead at the falls OF Paint Creek, in Ross Coun-